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All right, maybe it wasn't the best way to start off a conversation.
"Why did I call his work defective and why the hell did I bring his arm into the conversation? Stupid stupid stupid." Yang scolded herself as she made her way through the shelves of merchandise. She did not care for the merchandise she just wanted to get out of the shop owner's angry gaze. "How did I even get myself into this?" she questioned going over the events that almost led to her banishment from the shop.
She had forgotten today was her kid sister's birthday and did not have anything to give her. How could she forget her own sister's birthday? Well, when you're a huntress in training to protect all of mankind from vicious creature of death, the little things tend to slip your mind.
Therefore, in a panicked state she took the next airship from Beacon to Vale in search of a gift. A gift her geeky-weapons-loving sister would cherish. Yang's sister, Ruby, was always searched for new ways to ramp up her great scythes mecha-shift sniper rifle and always looked for the best shops. So it wasn't a surprise when Ruby came back to their dorm one day acting head over heels for a guy, which turned out to be a new weapons shop in town. The shop's name was Turner's Gismos, and Ruby would continuously praise it. Yang had to threaten a one-month cookie and milk ban to stop her.
So the blond bombshell ran through Vale, burst into Turner's Gizmos and shouted, "Quick, I need some awesome weapon, now!" She froze.
A man, almost as tall as Yang, stood before her; he wore nothing but boxer shorts.
Neither the man, nor Yang could take their eyes off each other, the former mortified and later in disbelief. She could not recall the last time, if any time, she had ever seen injuries that bad. The severe burn scars covering his legs which start with a light burn discoloration just above the knees to distorted scared flesh around the lower shins and ankles.
Her eyes slowly rose, following the scars to the man's chest. His torso adorned with evidence of a toned physique hidden and eaten away by severe burns. His right arm as bad his legs, and his left was missing below the elbow.
She grimaced at the state of his arm. At this, the man's expression shifted from shock to anger. A face Yang could not tear her eyes from. His twisted face, whose right side a distorted with red and black scar tissue, with a pale white eye glossed over and lifeless, contorted into a revolting appearance as he grimaced at her. The scarred flesh so taught it may snap at any moment.
The horror of his face rattled Yang to her core. Her eyes darted around the room, but always returned to the man. She tried to think of something, anything to diffuse the situation she got herself into, her attention settled on the object he held in his right hand, a bundle of bandages and gauze.
She smiled nervously, scratching the back of her head. "I thought you would like a pretty lady to help you with that?"
"GET OUT! CAN'T YOU READ? I'M CLOSED FOR LUNCH!" The furious man crushed the roll of bandages in his hand.
Yang didn't need to be told twice. She darted outside, slammed the door, and then leaned against it shaking her head. "Of all the things I could have said, why did I tease him?" she gave a dry chuckle.
Yang leaned against the door to the gismo shop with a sigh, and took out her scroll. She waited outside as song after song blasted through her ear buds. She pondered the recent events of the Forever Fall Forest, and questioned if Pyrrha ever used her semblance during their spars. The door handle clicked. Suddenly she fell on her back staring up at the man.
Now, he wore basic sneakers, blue jeans, and a blue shirt. What stood out the most was the series on leather straps that wrapped around his chest and shoulders. The straps held a smooth wooden prosthetic arm in place. The prosthetic ended in a shining three pronged claw which currently held a wooden cane. Despite his face and claw like prosthetic he looked like a normal guy.
"What did you want?" The man taped his foot impatiently staring down at her.
Yang quickly stood and smiled. "Yah, I was looking for a weapon modification for my sister or something like that?"
He sighed. "What type of weapon and modification are you looking for?" Stated as if he had repeated it so often the words lost all real meaning.
"Well I'm not really sure what modifications are needed at all." Yang shrugged her shoulders and examined the shop. "But the weapon is a Mecha-shift sniper rifle, great scythe."
The man burst into laughter. "I should have known it was you, Yang Xiao Long," he said pointing at her. "You are just as stubborn, full headed, careless, and impulsive as your sister said you were."
"Hey," Yang said in annoyance. "I am all that and a bomb shell. In other words I'm the perfect person to turn anything into fun time." She crossed her arms, which only emphasized her bust, and gave the man a smug grin.
Once she got past the man's insult, something he said dawned on her. "Wait you know my sister Ruby?"
The man grabbed his cane and hobbled over behind his counter. "I know that weapon and its yielder well. Little red, your sister, is a weapon's genius in her own right."
"She has been to my shop several times to make minor adjustments to Crescent Rose." He retrieved a peculiar ammunitions cartridge from behind the counter.
"This was one of the latest upgrades she was going to incorporate." He waved a beckoning hand to Yang.
She approached the counter and scrutinized the cartridge. "I don't think I have ever seen any clip like this before. It looks like it has two chambers though."
"You are correct; this clip allows the use of two different rounds of dust infused ammunition. You can select when you want to use either or set it to auto alternate between the rounds and it is fully compatible with the current design of Crescent Rose," the man said with pride in his voice. "Wait here, I'll even throw in custom ice and fire dust rounds she wanted." With that, the man left to the back of the shop.
Yang fiddled with the ammunition cartridge unsure if it actually worked. The design was something she has never seen before and it baffled her.
"I found the rounds." The blond turned to face the man walking back with a smile and a small metal box.
"Hold up. You got to be pulling my leg here." She sneered at him, arms crossed and standing tall. "If Rubes was working on this, then why she has not picked up the completed upgrade? Hmm."
Yang leans in close to the man "I think this thing is either unfinished or defective."
The man's mouth hung open, shocked that someone would question his craft "I assure you there is no mistake. This component is fully functional."
Yang snorts out a laugh "Yeah Right. I bet this thing's isn't even as functional as your claw." An ear piercing snap put her on high alert. Seeking the source she finds the handle of the cane has been crushed into a pile of splinters within the claw.
The man's face turned bright red with anger. "You doubt my craft and jest at my disabilities! Then you are not welcome here!" He slammed his fist on the counter. "I don't care if you're the sister of my best customer, get out now and stay out!" He threw his arm up pointing to the door for her to leave.
"Woh. All right chill. I'm sorry, it was just a joke." Yang raised both hands in defense. "I'll just take a look around and purchase something else for her. I'll be quick so I won't be in your hair."
The man grunted considering her offer over. "You have three minutes, after that you leave."
"Got it." She gave a two-finger salute and dashed off.
Yang hid among the selves of merchandise, examining the several clocks and odd mechanical trinkets, which never ceased to move. The shop was truly strange with toys, clock, weapon components and even an incomplete life-sized automaton in the corner. Among these trinkets, a lone carousel caught her eye. It had a white top and base with black decals, which resembled the old carnival rides. It had four horses each one with its own pose.
There was a white and pastel blue horse, which trotted with dignity. Another, an untamed black stallion, walked along with pride. The third, a golden mare with a bright yellow mane, raced along with confidence. The last horse was another black; its bright red saddle matched its mane and tail, and it skipped with pure joy.
She picked up a small carousel and wound the key at its side. The carousel's slow spin grew to a gentle whirl as each brightly colored horse bobbed its rhythmic circle. All the while joyful music rang from its base. A song Yang could not recognize but it reminded her of being young. It reminded her, of her family, her mother: Summer Rose.
Yang brought the carousel to the counter. Her demeanor clearly changed. No longer was she the cocky, energetic powerhouse, but instead a somber, caring guardian.
She gently placed the carousel on the counter. "How much for the carousel?" Her voice much softer and calmer than before.
The man adjusted his thin glasses to appraise the carousel. "150 lien"
"Isn't that a little high?" the blond-brawler asked as she took out her wallet.
"Not when I carved, built, and painted that all by hand." He went to his register and rang it up.
"Wow you made that? That's pretty impressive." She picked up the carousel and examined the intricate patterns painted on the horses. Let out a small sigh. "Look I'm sorry for poking fun at your condition."
"Apology accepted. Would you like a box for that?"
"Yah thanks, if you got any colorful ones, bright red?" she asked.
"Yes I do; just give me a minute to package this and you'll be all set." The man walked to the back of the shop with the carousel.
Yang leaned against the counter. "Why did that music make me so sentimental?"
The man returned with a bright red box and a smaller brown box.
"What's the little one for?" She said pointing to the brown box.
"I checked my records while I was back there. Turns out you sister made the final payment on her customized ammunition cartridge, so I included it with your gift." He hands both boxes to only customer that day.
"Thanks she'll really appreciate it." She places them under her right arm and heads for the door. "Hey what's your name?"
"Turner Cortez, why do you ask?"
"I just wanted to know the name of the best weapons repair man in town. Think you can spice up Ember Celica sometime?" The huntress-in-training holds up her left arm and the large golden bracelet shifts into a full gauntlet with her forearm and back of her hand covered. The gauntlet has small gun barrels protruding out over the back of her hand.
"Sure as long as you stay calm in my shop though," Turner said nodding.
"Thanks Turner and you still got that Bod." Yang winks at him going out the door.
Yang headed back to her team's dorm room to find Ruby, whom read a weapons magazine lounging in her bed.
The tall blond plopped down on the end of Ruby's bed. This slightly startled her sister. "Hey Rubes I got yah a B-day gift. Here." She placed the boxes beside her.
Ruby dashed over to the boxes and opened the small one first.
"OH MY OHM‼ You got me the custom dual chamber alternating dust round ammunitions cartridge for Crescent Rose!" Ruby squealed in excitement, eyes filled with stars as she tackled her sister with a hug.
Ruby's antics caught the attention of their other teammates. Weiss turned away from her homework in annoyance. Blake peered over from her romance novel pretending not to watch.
"Calm down sis. You paid for that one; Turner just had me deliver it." Yang gently pushed her sister off her. "The red one is my gift." She gestured to the box beside her.
"Oh. Then let's see what it is!" The excited Ruby shredded the box open in seconds and was instantly entranced with the carousel.
"Go ahead, wind her up." Yang gave Ruby a bright caring smile.
Ruby wound the key to the carousel and let it play. Her expression shifted from excited joy to a melancholy happiness. In silence with a soft smile, Ruby's eyes never left the carousel as the horses dance to the music. "Hey Yang remember when mom used to bake cookies with us?"
Yang rapped her arm around Ruby's shoulder. "Yeah I remember. We'd end up eating half the cookie dough before it ever made it to the oven."
Ruby chuckled and wiped a tear from her eye. "Thanks Yang I really like it."
"No prob Rubes," the older sister said in a soft voice.
"Really, thank you Yang, for everything." Yang tilted her head towards her sister.
"You held me when all I wanted was to be held by mom. You protected me when I was bullied. You cheered me up with those bad puns when all I wanted to do was cry." Ruby wrapped her arms around her dear sister's waist and held her close.
"My puns were never bad Ruby," Yang softly said as she embraced her sister.
Ruby chuckled lightly. "Whatever, just stick with me alright?"
"I always will Rubes."
AN: This is a quick one-shot of yang meeting turner. He is the lead OC in my story RWBY: The Accidental Hitch-Hiker.
Also I would like to thank dtill359, and Be Happy. Be Healthy. 4Ever, Rogur9, CercandoUnaVoce, and Bella119 for their reviews. Thanks to them I was able to rewrite and improve the story.
A note to those whom I have based my edits upon. I apologize if the rewrite was not as good as you were hoping it to be with your input. I understood what your recommendations, suggestions, and explanation were, but implementing them was difficult when I am not completely sure how to spot these issues on my own. Still i tried my best and even looked up the specific grammar rules and definitions that you have mentioned all to try to make it work. I'll continue to look into the writing advice you have given me and update this and my other story as I learn and spot further mistake. Again thank you.
This will also be used in the Writers Anonymous Random Opener Challenge. Well I hope you enjoyed it.